GH Institute

All MP3 players

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  Review of Apple iPod Nano MP3 player

  Features

  8GB of storage for 2,000 songs or 8 hours of video (16GB version available for £138). 2.2-inch LCD screen. FM radio with Live Pause. Video camera. Polished anodised aluminium casing. Free laser engraved message if you buy online from Apple. Battery lasts up to 24 hours between charges. Available in nine colours.

  Comments

  Good points: This is a great-looking player with a superb user interface and lots of extras. Sound quality is strong, though the supplied headphones aren't the best. Video camera is great for casual recording and has gimmicky extras like film grain or motion blur. The FM radio can pause what's playing and rewind up to 15 minutes. The Genius function lets you choose one track and the software finds other songs in your library that go well with it. Very cool, extraordinarily easy to use and great fun. Compatible with Apple's iTunes music store to download albums and video.

  Drawbacks: Distinctly average headphones. Video camera doesn't shoot stills, only video.

  Rating: 95/100

  Price Range: £106 - 118

  Stockist: 0800 048 0408 - http://www.apple.com/uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2010

  
  

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  Review of Sony NWZA845B MP3 player

  Features

  16GB of storage. 2.8-inch OLED screen. FM radio. Digital noise-cancelling. TV out connector to play back video on compatible TV. Battery lasts up to 30 hours between charges.

  Comments

  Good points: The Sony has outstanding sound - beating other MP3 players hands down. It has nifty digital noise-cancelling to reduce background noise and great headphones to improve the sound further. The screen uses OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology which is bright and pin-sharp. It also contributes to the players exceptional battery life (up to 30 hours of music, 6 hours video) between charges. It's pleasingly slim and well-designed.

  Drawbacks: Lacks the nano's microphone and video camera extras.

  Rating: 94/100

  Price Range: £139 - 150

  Stockist: 08705 111999 - http://www.sony.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2010

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  Review of Samsung TicToc MP3 player

  Features

  2GB of storage (4GB model available, price to follow). No display. Integrated clip. Accelerometer (motion sensor) built in. Variety of cases and sleeves available

  Comments

  Good points: This is an endearingly good fun player: tiny, preposterously light and designed to appeal to young women, Samsung says, though we think it's appealing to all. There's one button on the end but thanks to a motion sensor inside it reacts differently according to how it's held. Shake it and it'll find all the slow tracks, or fast ones. Shake again and a voice will name the track. Tip it up one way and pressing the button increases the volume, hold it the other way to lower the volume. Comes in funky colours and patterned cases. The sound quality doesn't match the Sony's but overall, the TicToc is highly delightful.

  Drawbacks: Controls can be fiddly.

  Rating: 93/100

  Price Range: £35 - 40

  Stockist: 0800 521652 - http://www.samsung.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2010

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  Review of Apple iPod Shuffle MP3 player

  Features

  2GB for 1,000 songs (4GB version available for £60). No display. Headphones with playback controls. Integrated clip. Battery lasts up to 10 hours between charges. Available in pink, green, blue, silver and black.

  Comments

  Good points: This is Apple's budget option but it's still pretty glam. Space is saved by omitting an LCD screen - the controls are on the headphone cable. Press a button and a computerised voice reminds you of the track's name. It'll also let you know when to recharge. The best-looking tiny MP3 player thanks to its anodised aluminium finish. It's called the shuffle because it plays the tracks in random order - though you can switch this feature off. Exceptionally small and light (under 11g, or 17g for the pricier stainless steel black version).

  Drawbacks: Lack of screen can be disappointing.

  Rating: 87/100

  Price Range: £43 - 46

  Stockist: 0800 048 0408 - http://www.apple.com/uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2010

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  Review of Creative Zen MX MP3 player

  Features

  16GB of storage, with expandable memory through card slot (8GB version available for £70). 2.5-inch LCD screen. FM radio. Microphone. Alarm function.

  Comments

  Good points: Because there's a memory card slot you can add extra storage, so the total capacity can be high, assuming you are happy to buy memory cards. Sound playback is sparkling and punchy, and watching the video on the small screen is manageable for short bursts.

  Drawbacks: Awkward direction pad control. Limited video playback capabilities. Poor headphones.

  Rating: 80/100

  Price Range: £70 - 80

  Stockist: 0800 376 7954 - http://www.uk.store.creative.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2010

• 
  Review of SanDisk Sansa Clip MP3 player

  Features

  8GB expandable memory through card slot. 1-inch LCD screen. FM radio. Microphone. Compatible with PCs, not Macs.

  Comments

  Good points: Small size but big sound are the stand-out features here. The attached clip means its good for use at the gym or on the move.

  Drawbacks: Limited features and lack of full compatibility with Apple Mac computers. Clip could be more substantial. Tiny screen and no video playback.

  Rating: 70/100

  Price Range: £41 - 120

  Stockist: 020 7365 4193 - http://www.sandisk.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2010

• 
  Review of Apple iPod Touch 8Gb MP3 player

  Good Housekeeping Top Scorer

  Features

  Capacity: 8 Gb (also 16, 32). 2,000 MP3s. Weight 120g. Dimensions H110xW61 xD8mm. Rechargeable batteries. 22h music. Features:  photos, video, internet via WiFi, touch screen, organizer, Mac and PC compatible

  Comments

  Stunning player with superb touch-screen controls. Slim, black front and silver metal back. Wireless internet to access web, YouTube etc. Photos and videos very clear - images rotate when the player is turned on its side. Very classy and excellent sound.

  Rating: 91/100

  Price Range: £169.99 - 187.99

  Stockist: 0800 048 0408 - http://www.apple.com/uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

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  Review of Creative Zen 32Gb MP3 player

  Features

  Capacity: 32 Gb (also 4, 8, 16). 8,000 MP3s/16,000 WMAs. Weight 64g. Dimensions H55xW83xD12mm. Rechargeable batteries. 25h music. Features:  photos, video, organizer, radio, SD memory, PC compatible only

  Comments

  Looks good and amazingly small (like a thick credit card) for the capacity. Good, clear screen. The controls work fine and are easy to use, but aren't inspired. It's possible to add extra memory, but the capacity is huge anyway.

  Rating: 80/100

  Price Range: £149.99 - 245

  Stockist: 0800 376 7954 - http://www.uk.europe.creative.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

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  Review of Archos 605 30Gb MP3 player

  Features

  Capacity: 30 Gb (also 4, 40,160). 7,500 MP3s/15,000 WMAs. Weight 190g. Dimensions H82xW122xD15mm. Rechargeable batteries, 17h music. Features:  photos, video, touch screen, internet via WiFi, Mac and PC compatible

  Comments

  Superb screen and sound make it a great multimedia player - and it uses wireless networking both to access the internet and music from your computer. It's too big and heavy to be a realistic MP3 player: this is really a portable video player. It has a hard disc, rather than flash memory - which may be more fragile.

  Rating: 79/100

  Price Range: £169.99 - 249.99

  Stockist: 0870 609 1263 - http://www.archos.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

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  Review of Sony NWZ-A829K 16Gb MP3 player

  Features

  Capacity: 16 Gb (also 4, 8) 4,000 MP3s/8,000 WMAs. Weight 65g. Dimensions H94xW50xD9mm. Rechargeable batteries. 36h music. Features:  photos, video, Bluetooth headphones, PC compatible only

  Comments

  A good player with the nice addition of Bluetooth so you can use wireless headphones or speakers (wireless headphones are included as well as conventional earbuds). Looks like a mobile phone: the controls are rather ugly. Sound quality is fine, but not the best.

  Rating: 78/100

  Price Range: £169.99 - 229.99

  Stockist: 08705 111999 - http://www.sony.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

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  Review of Sansa Fuze 8Gb MP3 player

  Features

  Capacity: 8 Gb (also 2, 4) 2,000 MP3s/4,000 WMAs. Weight 60g. Available in black, pink, red, blue or silver. Dimensions H79xW48xD8mm. Rechargeable batteries, 24h music. Features:  photos, video, radio, micro SD memory, PC compatible only

  Comments

  Attractive, small, well built player with intuitive controls and nice circular touch control for volume and menus. Irritating that both photos and videos have to be put through a converter program before loading. The capacity is extendable with memory card

  Rating: 77/100

  Price Range: £76.99 - 89.99

  Stockist: http://www.sandisk.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

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  Review of Philips SA3245 4Gb MP3 player

  Features

  Capacity: 4 Gb (also 2) 1,000 MP3s/2,000 WMAs. Weight 55g. Dimensions H56xW94xD12mm. Rechargeable batteries, 25h music. Features:  photos, video, radio, PC compatible only.

  Comments

  GH GOOD DEAL. For a budget player this looks very stylish and feels solid and robust, with excellent sound. Surprisingly good pictures and video on the small full colour screen, though these need converting before viewing.

  Rating: 67/100

  Price Range: £43.96 - 69.99

  Stockist: 01293 776675 - http://www.philips.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

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  Review of Archos 105 2Gb MP3 player

  Features

  Capacity: 2 Gb - 500 MP3s/1,000 WMAs. Weight 50g. Available in black, red or silver. Dimensions H85xW45xD7mm. Rechargeable batteries, 18h music. Features:  photos, video, Pc compatible only

  Comments

  Attractive for a low price player with good finish, but is let down a little by picture and sound quality.  Relatively low capacity for the price.

  Rating: 50/100

  Price Range: £39.9 - 59.98

  Stockist: http://www.archos.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

• 
  Review of Sansa Clip 4Gb MP3 player

  Features

  Capacity: 4 Gb (also 1, 2) 1,000 MP3s/2,000 WMAs. Weight 26g. Available in black, pink, red, blue opr silver. Dimensions H55xW34xD17mm. Rechargeable batteries, 15h music. Features:  radio, text screen, PC compatible only

  Comments

  Looks pretty and has a neat concealed screen behind the reflective front surface. The clip is handy, but makes it fat front to back. Overall it feels a bit plastic and the controls don't feel robust. Has a slightly confusing menu structure - the left arrow doesn't always take you up a level

  Rating: 48/100

  Price Range: £38.99 - 40.99

  Stockist: http://www.sandisk.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

• 
  Review of Creative Zen Stone Plus 4Gb MP3 player

  Features

  Capacity: 4 Gb (also 2) 1,000 MP3s/2,000 WMAs. Weight 21g. Available in black, blue, champagne or pink. Dimensions H36xW56xD18mm. Rechargeable batteries, 20h music. Features:  radio, text screen, speaker, PC compatible only

  Comments

  Looks funky and fun if ugly (blob shaped) and feels plastic and not very robust. The adequate little screen gives reasonable access to select tracks. The speaker isn't very loud, but is a nice extra, appreciated by younger users.

  Rating: 46/100

  Price Range: £46.48 - 49.99

  Stockist: 0800 376 7954 - http://www.uk.europe.creative.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

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  Review of Apple iPod Shuffle 2Gb MP3 player

  Features

  Capacity: 2 Gb (also 1) 500 MP3s. Weight 15.6g. Available in silver, blue, green, pink or red. Dimensions H27xW51xD10mm. Rechargeable batteries, 12h music. Features:  none.

  Comments

  Pretty and tiny with a handy clip, and feels robust and well-made. Unfortunately the lack of screen and the inability to select tracks by album, artist etc., available on every other player, is very limiting.

  Rating: 45/100

  Price Range: £39.99 - 45

  Stockist: 0800 048 0408 - http://www.apple.com/uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

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  Review of Samsung YP-U2 MP3 player

  Features

  512Mb player; USB stick

  Comments

  A 512Mb player that can be plugged straight into a computer to add or remove tracks and charge the battery. Holds around 250 tracks.

  Rating: 61/100

  Price: £29.99

  Stockist: http://www.samsung.com

  GHI Test Report - June 2007

• 
  Review of Creative Zen V Plus MP3 player

  Features

  4Gb player; radio and video functions; Up to 2,000 songs

  Comments

  Use this 4Gb player for music, the radio or videos. Holds up to 2,000 tracks.

  Rating: 74/100

  Price: £104.99

  Stockist: http://www.europe.creative.com

  GHI Test Report - June 2007

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  Review of Sony Walkman NW-S203F MP3 player

  Good Housekeeping Top Scorer

  Features

  1 Gb player; holds 685 tracks; pedometer

  Comments

  A great choice for fitness fanatics, this 1Gb player has a built-in pedometer. There's a radio function, too. Holds up to 685 tracks.
  
  

  Rating: 75/100

  Price: £79.99

  Stockist: http://www.sonystyle.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - June 2007